Introduction

Obesity is a disease affecting an increasing number of people around the world. Studies show that the diet of obese patients is qualitatively poor, which is linked to many vitamin and mineral deficiencies in this group of patients. To determine whether selected elements of patients’ lifestyle contributed to the occurrence of extreme obesity among them.

Material and methods

The study involved 60 patients qualified for surgical treatment. A survey related to dietary habits was conducted and anthropometric measurements were taken. For the survey used in this study the questionnaire contained questions on: socio-economic situation, health condition, presence of diseases accompanying obesity, dietary habits and physical activity. All the results were statistically analysed using the STATISTICA 12 software.

Results

As many as 75% of women and 80.5% of men qualified for the two types of surgeries led a sedentary lifestyle and did not engage in any physical activity. Majority of patients ate only 2-3 meals a day at irregular intervals and snacked between meals. Approximately 1/3 of patients did not eat breakfasts and 1/5 ate meals during the night. Women most often snacked under stress and men snacked as a habit in front of the TV/computer.

Conclusions

Dietary habits and a sedentary lifestyle were the main contributors to the development of obesity, along with eating to reduce stress. A consultation with a psychologist would help patients to reduce excessive body weight.